By Dr. David Smith As has been consistent in the last years, this June many professional sports teams are hosting Pride theme games and events to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. As is also consistent in the last years, there is pushback from athletes wearing Pride themed jerseys for their team’s Pride Night games. In 2026 … Continue reading Athletes Are Protesting Pride Night Jerseys Leading Teams to Cancel Pride Night Events: A Well Intentioned but Misaligned Approach to Pride in Sport
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Ted Lasso reminded us to “Believe” and we need it now more than ever.
By Dr. David Smith I once had an athlete ask me, “what if I fail?” Fear of failure is very common in sport, academics, and generally in life. Understandably so, because what will we do if we put in the work and end up with nothing? It's scary to think about. I advised him to … Continue reading Ted Lasso reminded us to “Believe” and we need it now more than ever.
While the International Olympic Committee gives in to discriminatory political ideology, it is time for LGBTQ+ sports to step up and challenge it.
By Dr. David Smith The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced a blanket ban on all transgender women and athletes classified DSD (Differential Sex Development), also commonly known as “intersex” from competition. This comes in the lead up toward the LA2028 games and at the behest of the current US government which has become increasingly … Continue reading While the International Olympic Committee gives in to discriminatory political ideology, it is time for LGBTQ+ sports to step up and challenge it.
Scales of Goals: A Cyclical Periodization Approach to Goal Setting and Maintaining Accountability
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) There is no love loss for goal setting in the field of sport and exercise psychology. Even further, the entire foundation of sport and exercise, as a field of science and as a multi-billion-dollar industry is all about setting goals. From weight loss goals to achieving medals, establishing … Continue reading Scales of Goals: A Cyclical Periodization Approach to Goal Setting and Maintaining Accountability
Improvise Your Way to High Performance in Sport and Life
By David Smith “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson This famous quote really hit me hard, not as hard as a punch in the face but almost so when it comes to the very foundation of what we consider “performance” within sport. Athletes will spend hours upon … Continue reading Improvise Your Way to High Performance in Sport and Life
Standard of Expectation, Culture of Performance, and the Wednesday Problem
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) One of my first real applicable experiences in infusing sport psychology with coaching started well before I became involved at all. That is, I was coaching one weekly session for the large adult master’s inclusive swim team that was focused on technical skill development and conditioning. This group … Continue reading Standard of Expectation, Culture of Performance, and the Wednesday Problem
Dumb Jocks and Theater Geeks Unite! Sport Psychology in the Performing Arts
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) What does sport have anything in common with the performing arts? I was asked as I stood at the front of a crowded room full of professors and seasoned artistic professionals looking at me. I shifted slightly as I considered the question, all eyes on me as clearly … Continue reading Dumb Jocks and Theater Geeks Unite! Sport Psychology in the Performing Arts
Exercise Gaming as a Mental Health Intervention, Exercise Psychology and Dance Dance Revolution
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) + Art by Bandcamp Exercise Psychology co-exists as a separate by complementary component within our field of Sport Psychology. However, unlike sport psychology, exercise psychology focuses less on performance and more on motivation to develop and maintain consistent exercise and physical activity behaviors. Furthermoe, exercise psychology works more … Continue reading Exercise Gaming as a Mental Health Intervention, Exercise Psychology and Dance Dance Revolution
In the Office or Out on the Field? The Identity Conflict of Mental Performance Coaching and Clinical Sport Psychology Toward Athletic Development
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) Applied sport psychology is facing quite the identity crisis. On one hand, it struggles with the perception and stereotype that an athlete only sees a sport psychologist to “fix” a problem they have. Any and every sport psychology practitioner will tell you that applied sport psych is much … Continue reading In the Office or Out on the Field? The Identity Conflict of Mental Performance Coaching and Clinical Sport Psychology Toward Athletic Development
Diversification of Training and Experience Develops Robust, Resilient, and Tactically Creative Athletes
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) The vilification of words like “diversity” represent a socio-political shift within our society toward a more convergent hegemonic perspective. It is in this evolution that the diversity of peoples who do not subscribe to this hegemonic perspective find themselves at equal vilification. However, when it comes to “diversity”, … Continue reading Diversification of Training and Experience Develops Robust, Resilient, and Tactically Creative Athletes
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